Encephalartos cerinus X horridus

*Encephalartos cerinus* × *E. horridus* is recorded as a cross between two southern African cycads. Both parents are compact species, but that does not prove the mature height, spread, or foliage color of this individual hybrid. ## Parent traits SANBI describes *E. cerinus* as a small cycad with a subterranean stem and a dense waxy coating on its blue-green leaves and cones. *E. horridus* is known for rigid, curling, blue-green foliage and a low, branching form; its natural habitat is nearly frost-free, and the species performs best in full sun and excellent drainage. These are parent-species accounts, not a prediction that the hybrid will display every trait. See the [cerinus profile](https://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-cerinus) and [horridus profile](https://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-horridus). ## Garden placement Give the plant a bright position and sharply draining soil, while protecting it from prolonged cold until its tolerance is known. Allow extra clearance around paths because both parent species have stiff leaflets; judge the individual’s eventual spread from its own crown rather than an assumed midpoint between species. ## Maintenance Water with attention to drainage and seasonal growth, and avoid keeping the root zone saturated. Remove only fully dead leaves, and avoid unnecessary disturbance once established. Buy and propagate cycads through lawful sources with clear provenance.